In Search of Volcanoes

If you’re fascinated by volcanoes, you may be surprised by how many of them you can visit via cruise ship. Whether you are a casual fan or a serious vulcanologist, cruise ships can take you to some of the world’s most famous volcanoes.

Hawaii has a number of dormant and active volcanoes sprinkled across the islands. The dormant Haleakala Volcano provides Maui with its highest point, and the view from the summit is spectacular, especially at sunrise. On the Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park features Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

If you cruise the Panama Canal, you can take a shore excursion to see Arenal, one of several active volcanoes in Costa Rica. At less than 7,000 years old, Arenal is considered a young volcano. Its classic, conical shape makes for terrific photos. At night, glowing orange lava flows can usually be seen near the summit.

Chile has an amazing concentration of active volcanoes – about 500 in all. If you have the opportunity, take an excursion to the Lake District, where volcanoes form dramatic backdrops for scenic lakes and waterfalls.

Volcanoes are responsible for making St. Lucia more mountainous than the average Caribbean island. The island’s famous twin peaks, the Pitons, are volcanic features. St. Lucia also has the world’s only drive-in volcano, called Sulphur Springs. You can literally drive into the crater of the volcano, then walk between steaming sulfur springs and bubbling pools of mud.

If your Mediterranean cruise includes a stop in Naples, Italy, it’s the perfect opportunity to see Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and rediscovered more than 1,500 years later. Vesuvius hasn’t had a major eruption since 1944, but is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes because the area around it is densely populated. The summit of Vesuvius is open to visitors, and there’s a network of hiking paths to explore around the mountain.

To find cruise itineraries that will let you explore one or more of the world’s volcanoes, talk with Cruise Holidays.